Galatians 3:23-26 (ESV Strong's)
23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.
Faith is a Key that Releases Us from a Tough Guardian
Understanding the relationship between the Law and the age of Grace, is the entire point of the book of Galatians. The believers, in this area of the world, were being led astray by false teachers:
Galatians 1:6-9 (ESV Strong's)
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
Whoever these “teachers” were, they were enticing the believers to form a “gospel” that had elements of the Old Testament and the New Testament. Paul, in his defense of THE GOSPEL, gives the believers several arguments about the relationship between the Law and the Gospel. One of those arguments is, above. BEFORE FAITH, we were held captive by the legal demands of the Law. The only way you are free from the legal demands of something is to stay within the lines of those demands. The Law becomes our “guardian,” keeping us within those lines, which would please God ... assuming we can KEEP the Law. That is what makes it so cruel. It is so hard to keep the entire law, when you are filled with sin. But, faith in Christ’s finished work (He completed the demands of the law ... stayed completely within the lines) releases us from that cruel guardian. That is the point Paul is making. He is telling his audience that the false teachers, by adding aspects of the Law to the Gospel, were putting us back under that guardian. But, by Faith in Christ, we are set free from that guardian. We have a freedom when we pursue Christ in Faith and believe that He fulfilled the entire Law and gave us that righteousness by His death on the cross.
Sunday, May 31, 2020
Saturday, May 30, 2020
Fear - Luke 7-8
Luke 8:25 (ESV Strong's)
25 He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”
Fear
Fear, according to Jesus, is a matter of faith. We probably don’t think this way in our human way of processing. However, Luke gives us several examples in this chapter about the faith/fear dynamic. Notice, not only the above passage, but these, also.
In the story of Jesus healing the demon possessed man, notice what happened with the town people when Jesus casts the demons out of the man into a heard of pigs:
Luke 8:37 (ESV Strong's)
37 Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned.
In the story of the woman who snuck up behind Jesus and touched his garment, in faith, hoping to be healed, notice:
Luke 8:47 (ESV Strong's)
47 And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed.
In the story of the healing of Jairus’s daughter, notice:
Luke 8:50 (ESV Strong's)
50 But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.”
In each of these stories we see that faith overcomes fear. Fear introduces into our lives a thought that we might not be able to get what we want or need. So, if we are committed to being safe and a storm comes, the fear of the storm destroys or blocks our commitment to remain safe. Hence, we fear.
The demon possessed man was bad, but having the daemons go into a heard of pigs introduced a fear that the town people could not reach their commitment of commerce and predictability. They may not liked the demon possessed man, but he was predictable and controllable. They feared the unknown and being out of control.
The lady who touched the hem of Jesus’ garment feared mankind. She wanted to be and was committed to being unseen and hidden in the background of life. Her touching the garment exposed her.
The family and friends of Jairus’s daughter feared they had lost a friend. They were committed to keeping her alive.
In each of these stories, fear was a road block to the person(s) commitment in life. The answer to overcome them was to focus their commitment on wanting what God wanted for them. We do that via faith. Faith puts our assurance in God’s ability to produces in us what He wants for us. That allows us to overcome fear. Since fear is trying to prevent us from reaching our commitments in life, if our commitments in life are to be used by God, then we know that we have nothing to fear. Fear is a matter of love and believing that God loves us more than anything else. Therefore, knowing He loves us, we can know that whatever happens in our lives is out of love:
1 John 4:18 (ESV Strong's)
18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
When we believe God perfectly loves us we have nothing to fear since our faith in God’s love for us trumps fear’s torment.
25 He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”
Fear
Fear, according to Jesus, is a matter of faith. We probably don’t think this way in our human way of processing. However, Luke gives us several examples in this chapter about the faith/fear dynamic. Notice, not only the above passage, but these, also.
In the story of Jesus healing the demon possessed man, notice what happened with the town people when Jesus casts the demons out of the man into a heard of pigs:
Luke 8:37 (ESV Strong's)
37 Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned.
In the story of the woman who snuck up behind Jesus and touched his garment, in faith, hoping to be healed, notice:
Luke 8:47 (ESV Strong's)
47 And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed.
In the story of the healing of Jairus’s daughter, notice:
Luke 8:50 (ESV Strong's)
50 But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.”
In each of these stories we see that faith overcomes fear. Fear introduces into our lives a thought that we might not be able to get what we want or need. So, if we are committed to being safe and a storm comes, the fear of the storm destroys or blocks our commitment to remain safe. Hence, we fear.
The demon possessed man was bad, but having the daemons go into a heard of pigs introduced a fear that the town people could not reach their commitment of commerce and predictability. They may not liked the demon possessed man, but he was predictable and controllable. They feared the unknown and being out of control.
The lady who touched the hem of Jesus’ garment feared mankind. She wanted to be and was committed to being unseen and hidden in the background of life. Her touching the garment exposed her.
The family and friends of Jairus’s daughter feared they had lost a friend. They were committed to keeping her alive.
In each of these stories, fear was a road block to the person(s) commitment in life. The answer to overcome them was to focus their commitment on wanting what God wanted for them. We do that via faith. Faith puts our assurance in God’s ability to produces in us what He wants for us. That allows us to overcome fear. Since fear is trying to prevent us from reaching our commitments in life, if our commitments in life are to be used by God, then we know that we have nothing to fear. Fear is a matter of love and believing that God loves us more than anything else. Therefore, knowing He loves us, we can know that whatever happens in our lives is out of love:
1 John 4:18 (ESV Strong's)
18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
When we believe God perfectly loves us we have nothing to fear since our faith in God’s love for us trumps fear’s torment.
Friday, May 29, 2020
Worshiping a Delusion - Jeremiah 47-52
Jeremiah 51:17-19 (ESV Strong's)
17 Every man is stupid and without knowledge;
every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols,
for his images are false,
and there is no breath in them.
18 They are worthless, a work of delusion;
at the time of their punishment they shall perish.
19 Not like these is he who is the portion of Jacob,
for he is the one who formed all things,
and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance;
the LORD of hosts is his name.
Worshiping a Delusion
The world is so foolish. Jeremiah is delivering a message by God about the way man worship. We seem to like to create things and then honor those things with our time and admiration. In Jeremiah’s day those things were actual figures of men and animals that the people would bow down and worship. In our day they are shinny and big. They are made out of metal and fiberglass and shingles and timber and place and technology and all sorts of God created substances. We don’t bow down and worship them, but we give them our time and money and resources and attention. The sad thing is, like the ancients, we often believe these things will deliver us. But, eventually rust gets to the metal; bugs get to the wood; dullness attacks the fiberglass; hackers and viruses get to the technology; and, rain and storms destroys the shingles. So, God is mocking man. God created all this and He desires our worship. He is NOT a delusion. Only God can give us true assurance and reliability.
17 Every man is stupid and without knowledge;
every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols,
for his images are false,
and there is no breath in them.
18 They are worthless, a work of delusion;
at the time of their punishment they shall perish.
19 Not like these is he who is the portion of Jacob,
for he is the one who formed all things,
and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance;
the LORD of hosts is his name.
Worshiping a Delusion
The world is so foolish. Jeremiah is delivering a message by God about the way man worship. We seem to like to create things and then honor those things with our time and admiration. In Jeremiah’s day those things were actual figures of men and animals that the people would bow down and worship. In our day they are shinny and big. They are made out of metal and fiberglass and shingles and timber and place and technology and all sorts of God created substances. We don’t bow down and worship them, but we give them our time and money and resources and attention. The sad thing is, like the ancients, we often believe these things will deliver us. But, eventually rust gets to the metal; bugs get to the wood; dullness attacks the fiberglass; hackers and viruses get to the technology; and, rain and storms destroys the shingles. So, God is mocking man. God created all this and He desires our worship. He is NOT a delusion. Only God can give us true assurance and reliability.
Thursday, May 28, 2020
Turn at My Reproof - Proverbs 1
Proverbs 1:23
Turn to my reproof,
Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you;
I will make my words known to you.
Proverbs 1:23 (ESV Strong's)
If you turn at my reproof,
behold, I will pour out my spirit to you;
I will make my words known to you.
In the first chapter of Proverbs, Solomon is warning and telling us about what to do when the unbeliever tempts us to join his pack and go after the innocent. After several instructions about what to do to avoid the folly unbelievers offer, Solomon gives us this admonishment. If we "turn" to God's reproof he will give us a different spirit. It will be God's spirit. He will make His "words" known to us. Obedience does more than please God. It opens the avenue for God to make Himself known to us. This proverb is fully born out in the gospels, especially the gospel of John. Christ tells us in John 15 to "abide" in Him and He will fill us with fruit. That is Proverbs 1:23 fulfilled in us. Turn at God's reproof and God turns His attention to us. He fills us with His Spirit. He indwells us with His ways. He opens up our minds to knowing and understanding Him. We turn away from the temptations of the fool and we are filled with the wisdom and knowledge of God. We not only know the path to take but have an intimate knowledge of who God is and an intimate relationship with Him. Turn at God's reproof - be filled with God's person, it will change our mind and repair our mindset.
Turn to my reproof,
Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you;
I will make my words known to you.
Proverbs 1:23 (ESV Strong's)
If you turn at my reproof,
behold, I will pour out my spirit to you;
I will make my words known to you.
In the first chapter of Proverbs, Solomon is warning and telling us about what to do when the unbeliever tempts us to join his pack and go after the innocent. After several instructions about what to do to avoid the folly unbelievers offer, Solomon gives us this admonishment. If we "turn" to God's reproof he will give us a different spirit. It will be God's spirit. He will make His "words" known to us. Obedience does more than please God. It opens the avenue for God to make Himself known to us. This proverb is fully born out in the gospels, especially the gospel of John. Christ tells us in John 15 to "abide" in Him and He will fill us with fruit. That is Proverbs 1:23 fulfilled in us. Turn at God's reproof and God turns His attention to us. He fills us with His Spirit. He indwells us with His ways. He opens up our minds to knowing and understanding Him. We turn away from the temptations of the fool and we are filled with the wisdom and knowledge of God. We not only know the path to take but have an intimate knowledge of who God is and an intimate relationship with Him. Turn at God's reproof - be filled with God's person, it will change our mind and repair our mindset.
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
He is Awesome - Psalms 63-65
Psalms 65:5-8 (ESV Strong's)
5 By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness,
O God of our salvation,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas;
6 the one who by his strength established the mountains,
being girded with might;
7 who stills the roaring of the seas,
the roaring of their waves,
the tumult of the peoples,
8 so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs.
You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy.
He Is Awesome
God, by awesome deeds, proves Himself awesome for us and to us. God is the God of “hope” from the farthest seas. Notice the “deeds” the writer outlines for us to prove that God is “awesome.”
1. The One, who my His strength, established the mountains. Just think how hard it is to climb a mountain, much less create one.
2. The One stills the roaring seas and the roaring waves. That is a reference to Jesus calming the seas for the disciples. Imagine the power to make the roaring seas, calm!!
3. He calms the “tumult of the peoples.” This might be the most amazing of all; God calms the souls of man in a riot. The concept of “mob mentality” is true in the Psalmist’s day and in our day. Yet, God has the power to calm the souls of man.
4. The sunrise and the sunset show the power of God. He makes the “going out of the mourning and the evening” to cause us to shout for joy. He makes the sun “shout” His glory.
That is the awesomeness of God. We can and should praise Him for His power.
5 By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness,
O God of our salvation,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas;
6 the one who by his strength established the mountains,
being girded with might;
7 who stills the roaring of the seas,
the roaring of their waves,
the tumult of the peoples,
8 so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs.
You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy.
He Is Awesome
God, by awesome deeds, proves Himself awesome for us and to us. God is the God of “hope” from the farthest seas. Notice the “deeds” the writer outlines for us to prove that God is “awesome.”
1. The One, who my His strength, established the mountains. Just think how hard it is to climb a mountain, much less create one.
2. The One stills the roaring seas and the roaring waves. That is a reference to Jesus calming the seas for the disciples. Imagine the power to make the roaring seas, calm!!
3. He calms the “tumult of the peoples.” This might be the most amazing of all; God calms the souls of man in a riot. The concept of “mob mentality” is true in the Psalmist’s day and in our day. Yet, God has the power to calm the souls of man.
4. The sunrise and the sunset show the power of God. He makes the “going out of the mourning and the evening” to cause us to shout for joy. He makes the sun “shout” His glory.
That is the awesomeness of God. We can and should praise Him for His power.
Tuesday, May 26, 2020
Divide the Baby in Half - 1 Kings 1-4
1 Kings 3:16 (ESV Strong's)
Solomon's Wisdom
16 Then two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him.
Divide the Baby in Half
The above story is the first opportunity that Solomon has to demonstrate the wisdom he has received from God. In previous verses, Solomon was asked by God what he would want God to give him. Instead of asking for riches and power, Solomon asked for wisdom and understanding. That so impressed God that God gave him wisdom, as well as riches and power. In the above passage we have the first story told by the writers about Solomon’s amazing wisdom. God brings to him, two prostitutes. God has the two of them come to Solomon for him to resolve a dispute between them. Both have a case to present. Both gave birth, one baby died, the other one claims the live one is their baby. Who would know which mother was telling the truth? Both are creditable (in the beginning) with their presented facts. Both have passion for their side of the story. Politically this could have been a disaster. This is the classic he-said-she-said scenario. This is what God brings before Solomon to magnify His wisdom and glory in Solomon. We ought to realize that God will bring to us, as believers, the disputes of the world. We will see them all time in our lives if we ask God for wisdom. Solomon proposes to split the baby in half and give them each part of the baby. This becomes the remarkable legacy of Solomon’s wisdom. Yet, he simply resolved a dispute between two prostitutes. God, when He wants to reveal the glory of the wisdom He gives us, can do some remarkable things in our lives. We ought to be ready to display the wisdom He freely gives us, in order to freely give praise to Him.
Solomon's Wisdom
16 Then two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him.
Divide the Baby in Half
The above story is the first opportunity that Solomon has to demonstrate the wisdom he has received from God. In previous verses, Solomon was asked by God what he would want God to give him. Instead of asking for riches and power, Solomon asked for wisdom and understanding. That so impressed God that God gave him wisdom, as well as riches and power. In the above passage we have the first story told by the writers about Solomon’s amazing wisdom. God brings to him, two prostitutes. God has the two of them come to Solomon for him to resolve a dispute between them. Both have a case to present. Both gave birth, one baby died, the other one claims the live one is their baby. Who would know which mother was telling the truth? Both are creditable (in the beginning) with their presented facts. Both have passion for their side of the story. Politically this could have been a disaster. This is the classic he-said-she-said scenario. This is what God brings before Solomon to magnify His wisdom and glory in Solomon. We ought to realize that God will bring to us, as believers, the disputes of the world. We will see them all time in our lives if we ask God for wisdom. Solomon proposes to split the baby in half and give them each part of the baby. This becomes the remarkable legacy of Solomon’s wisdom. Yet, he simply resolved a dispute between two prostitutes. God, when He wants to reveal the glory of the wisdom He gives us, can do some remarkable things in our lives. We ought to be ready to display the wisdom He freely gives us, in order to freely give praise to Him.
Monday, May 25, 2020
Encounter God in the Heart; Change the Face - Exodus 32-36
Exodus 34:29-35 (ESV Strong's)
29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. 30 Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. 31 But Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses talked with them. 32 Afterward all the people of Israel came near, and he commanded them all that the LORD had spoken with him in Mount Sinai. 33 And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face.
34 Whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he would remove the veil, until he came out. And when he came out and told the people of Israel what he was commanded, 35 the people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face was shining. And Moses would put the veil over his face again, until he went in to speak with him.
Encounter God in the Heart; Change the Face
The obvious lesson from the above passage is that when we have a time alone with God it should be visible to the world around us. Many people talk about their relationship with God, but the evidence of someone who communes regularly with God is a changed countenance. God, in the heart, soul and mind of a believer changes their outlook and how they frame life. When we frame life through the eyes of God we should have a different expression on our face. Worship should change our hearts and that should change our face. When we don’t have a relationship with God our face is not going to change. Notice how Solomon stated it:
Proverbs 27:19 (ESV Strong's)
19 As in water face reflects face,
so the heart of man reflects the man.
Our encounter with God is a heart matter. When we have an encounter with God in the heart, it changes the face.
29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. 30 Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. 31 But Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses talked with them. 32 Afterward all the people of Israel came near, and he commanded them all that the LORD had spoken with him in Mount Sinai. 33 And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face.
34 Whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he would remove the veil, until he came out. And when he came out and told the people of Israel what he was commanded, 35 the people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face was shining. And Moses would put the veil over his face again, until he went in to speak with him.
Encounter God in the Heart; Change the Face
The obvious lesson from the above passage is that when we have a time alone with God it should be visible to the world around us. Many people talk about their relationship with God, but the evidence of someone who communes regularly with God is a changed countenance. God, in the heart, soul and mind of a believer changes their outlook and how they frame life. When we frame life through the eyes of God we should have a different expression on our face. Worship should change our hearts and that should change our face. When we don’t have a relationship with God our face is not going to change. Notice how Solomon stated it:
Proverbs 27:19 (ESV Strong's)
19 As in water face reflects face,
so the heart of man reflects the man.
Our encounter with God is a heart matter. When we have an encounter with God in the heart, it changes the face.
Sunday, May 24, 2020
Being Weak, We Live in the Power of God - 2 Corinthians 11-13
2 Corinthians 13:1-4 (ESV Strong's)
1 This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 2 I warned those who sinned before and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come again I will not spare them— 3 since you seek proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. 4 For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God.
Being Weak, We Live in the Power of God
Paul, in the above verses, is giving a final warning to the church at Corinth. The context of this letter is very important to understand the meaning of the text (which is true of all letters). The church at Corinth was being invaded by a “super-apostles” (2 Corinthians 11:5-13). These visiting and traveling speakers were eloquent and charismatic; Paul, apparently, was not (2 Corinthians 11:6). Yet, Paul boast about his ministry in a completely different way. Paul was a humble servant of Christ who proved his authority and authenticity based upon the power of Christ. The above verses are the final statement to this end. Paul, in relationship with Christ, admits he is weak (as Christ was to submit to the crucifixion). But, as Christ was raised again by the power of God (Hebrews 13:20), so, too, would Paul come to them and correct the “super-apostles” by and with the power of God. We do not shrink when it comes to taking a stand against false teachers. Notice what Paul told young pastor Timothy:
2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV Strong's)
7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
We can stand on the very power of God in our lives as we serve and speak for God. Notice what Peter says about our giftedness, and using it to serve others:
1 Peter 4:10-11 (ESV Strong's)
10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
We are to speak, as the oracles of God, and we are to serve in the strength that God marvelously supplies so that Jesus Christ will be glorified. No “super-apostle” with all the charismatic skills in the world can stand against God’s power in us and through us. We are to yield to that power and claim that power.
1 This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 2 I warned those who sinned before and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come again I will not spare them— 3 since you seek proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. 4 For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God.
Being Weak, We Live in the Power of God
Paul, in the above verses, is giving a final warning to the church at Corinth. The context of this letter is very important to understand the meaning of the text (which is true of all letters). The church at Corinth was being invaded by a “super-apostles” (2 Corinthians 11:5-13). These visiting and traveling speakers were eloquent and charismatic; Paul, apparently, was not (2 Corinthians 11:6). Yet, Paul boast about his ministry in a completely different way. Paul was a humble servant of Christ who proved his authority and authenticity based upon the power of Christ. The above verses are the final statement to this end. Paul, in relationship with Christ, admits he is weak (as Christ was to submit to the crucifixion). But, as Christ was raised again by the power of God (Hebrews 13:20), so, too, would Paul come to them and correct the “super-apostles” by and with the power of God. We do not shrink when it comes to taking a stand against false teachers. Notice what Paul told young pastor Timothy:
2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV Strong's)
7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
We can stand on the very power of God in our lives as we serve and speak for God. Notice what Peter says about our giftedness, and using it to serve others:
1 Peter 4:10-11 (ESV Strong's)
10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
We are to speak, as the oracles of God, and we are to serve in the strength that God marvelously supplies so that Jesus Christ will be glorified. No “super-apostle” with all the charismatic skills in the world can stand against God’s power in us and through us. We are to yield to that power and claim that power.
Saturday, May 23, 2020
Do We Press to Hear God’s Word - Luke 5-6
Luke 5:1 (ESV Strong's)
1 On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret,
Do We Press to Hear God’s Word
In Luke chapter five we read the story of Jesus calling His disciples. We all know the story, but this first verse gives us a glimpse into the passion and desire of those following Jesus. We read that they were “pressing” in on Jesus to hear God’s word. Here you have a crowd “pressing” in (being “urgent”) to hear God’s Word. That should be something we all want to do in our lives. It is interesting that the next time that word for “pressing” is used is here ... it is translated “urgent” in this verse:
Luke 23:23 (ESV Strong's)
23 But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed.
This same crowd will go from being urgent to hear God’s Word to being urgent to want Christ crucified. Crowds are fickle.
But, for those being called to be disciples we out to “press” on Jesus to hear God’s Word. There should be a natural desire to want to closure to learn more. There should be a natural hunger to want more from Him in His teaching. Those who struggle to read God’s Word need to stop and think about which crowd they belong to: The one in chapter five or the one it chapter twenty-two.
1 On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret,
Do We Press to Hear God’s Word
In Luke chapter five we read the story of Jesus calling His disciples. We all know the story, but this first verse gives us a glimpse into the passion and desire of those following Jesus. We read that they were “pressing” in on Jesus to hear God’s word. Here you have a crowd “pressing” in (being “urgent”) to hear God’s Word. That should be something we all want to do in our lives. It is interesting that the next time that word for “pressing” is used is here ... it is translated “urgent” in this verse:
Luke 23:23 (ESV Strong's)
23 But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed.
This same crowd will go from being urgent to hear God’s Word to being urgent to want Christ crucified. Crowds are fickle.
But, for those being called to be disciples we out to “press” on Jesus to hear God’s Word. There should be a natural desire to want to closure to learn more. There should be a natural hunger to want more from Him in His teaching. Those who struggle to read God’s Word need to stop and think about which crowd they belong to: The one in chapter five or the one it chapter twenty-two.
Friday, May 22, 2020
When we Bear Under God’s Discipline, He Bears us Up! - Jeremiah 42-46
Jeremiah 42:8-12 (ESV Strong's)
8 Then he summoned Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces who were with him, and all the people from the least to the greatest, 9 and said to them, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your plea for mercy before him: 10 If you will remain in this land, then I will build you up and not pull you down; I will plant you, and not pluck you up; for I relent of the disaster that I did to you. 11 Do not fear the king of Babylon, of whom you are afraid. Do not fear him, declares the LORD, for I am with you, to save you and to deliver you from his hand. 12 I will grant you mercy, that he may have mercy on you and let you remain in your own land.
When we Bear Under God’s Discipline, He Bears us Up!
Babylon has come and destroyed most of Judah. There is only a remnant in the land. God allowed this to happen to His people because they disobeyed His word. Everyone knows this. Jerusalem is destroyed because the people refused to obey God’s Word. So, now the remnant that are left come to Jeremiah to ask him what God would have them do. The above response is what God told Jeremiah to tell the remnant. They will, immediately, disobey God’s word, seek refuge in Egypt and, totally, disobey God’s instruction. The same thing that put them in this position will be the behaviors they display once more. They simply don’t learn that disobedience to God’s Word is to suffer discipline from God. But, note the word Jeremiah gives them. Babylon had taken almost everyone captive. They had done this on repeated raids on the land and on the city of Jerusalem. The remnant that had not, yet, suffered under cruel Babylon had every right to believe they would return to “finish the job.” The most basic and natural instinct of man is survival. It is doubtful that any of us would do any different. Yet, God tells them to endure under this threat and foreign agency and to give in to their power ... because it was God who sent them and God would control them. God is saying to them, “In the midst of struggle, trust my sovereign care over you ... I will bear you up!” Yet, they will not trust God and will seek refuge from other gods and other sources. The thing we have to trust in the midst of crisis and fear is not our normal logic. Instead we are to, by faith, trust in God and His logic. Fear stripes us of our natural logic. God transcends our fear based logic and provides us with a sure, certain and steadfast word we can trust. When we are in that crisis time we are to be steadfast, even more so, in trusting God’s certain word and promises.
8 Then he summoned Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces who were with him, and all the people from the least to the greatest, 9 and said to them, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your plea for mercy before him: 10 If you will remain in this land, then I will build you up and not pull you down; I will plant you, and not pluck you up; for I relent of the disaster that I did to you. 11 Do not fear the king of Babylon, of whom you are afraid. Do not fear him, declares the LORD, for I am with you, to save you and to deliver you from his hand. 12 I will grant you mercy, that he may have mercy on you and let you remain in your own land.
When we Bear Under God’s Discipline, He Bears us Up!
Babylon has come and destroyed most of Judah. There is only a remnant in the land. God allowed this to happen to His people because they disobeyed His word. Everyone knows this. Jerusalem is destroyed because the people refused to obey God’s Word. So, now the remnant that are left come to Jeremiah to ask him what God would have them do. The above response is what God told Jeremiah to tell the remnant. They will, immediately, disobey God’s word, seek refuge in Egypt and, totally, disobey God’s instruction. The same thing that put them in this position will be the behaviors they display once more. They simply don’t learn that disobedience to God’s Word is to suffer discipline from God. But, note the word Jeremiah gives them. Babylon had taken almost everyone captive. They had done this on repeated raids on the land and on the city of Jerusalem. The remnant that had not, yet, suffered under cruel Babylon had every right to believe they would return to “finish the job.” The most basic and natural instinct of man is survival. It is doubtful that any of us would do any different. Yet, God tells them to endure under this threat and foreign agency and to give in to their power ... because it was God who sent them and God would control them. God is saying to them, “In the midst of struggle, trust my sovereign care over you ... I will bear you up!” Yet, they will not trust God and will seek refuge from other gods and other sources. The thing we have to trust in the midst of crisis and fear is not our normal logic. Instead we are to, by faith, trust in God and His logic. Fear stripes us of our natural logic. God transcends our fear based logic and provides us with a sure, certain and steadfast word we can trust. When we are in that crisis time we are to be steadfast, even more so, in trusting God’s certain word and promises.
Thursday, May 21, 2020
With God; the End Matters - Job 40-42
Job 42:16-17 (ESV Strong's)
16 And after this Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, four generations. 17 And Job died, an old man, and full of days.
With God; the End Matters
Here is the first verses of the story of Job:
Job 1:1-3 (ESV Strong's)
Job's Character and Wealth
1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. 2 There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. 3 He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east.
Here are the last verses of Job:
Job 42:12-17 (ESV Strong's)
12 And the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning. And he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. 13 He had also seven sons and three daughters. 14 And he called the name of the first daughter Jemimah, and the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-happuch. 15 And in all the land there were no women so beautiful as Job's daughters. And their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers. 16 And after this Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, four generations. 17 And Job died, an old man, and full of days.
It is the stuff in the middle that scars us. These are 20 of the best verses about Job’s life. The other 1,050 verses are about suffering and judgement and confusion and pain and God’s revealing Himself through His creation to rebuke Job and his three friends. BUT, the beginning and the end are amazing snapshots of Job’s life. We all want the beginning and then end and not the rest. Yet, it is the middle part that Job learned the most about God. It is the suffering that lead Job to this ending. In the end, God balances the scales. In the end, God puts us on one side and Jesus on the other and “we all live happily ever after!” This is the story of faith journey. In the end, God matters. Job was blessed in the end, but he still carried the scars of the loss of his first children. That did not go away. But, God made his days “full” and he was able to live out his days in glory to God. Job’s life had changed. Job’s perspective had changed. Job’s circumstances had change. But, God had not. God was there for all 1,070 verses written about Job’s life. For many of those verses, he struggled to put God in the center of that life. But, in the end, God gave him “full days.” The end matters to God.
16 And after this Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, four generations. 17 And Job died, an old man, and full of days.
With God; the End Matters
Here is the first verses of the story of Job:
Job 1:1-3 (ESV Strong's)
Job's Character and Wealth
1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. 2 There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. 3 He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east.
Here are the last verses of Job:
Job 42:12-17 (ESV Strong's)
12 And the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning. And he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. 13 He had also seven sons and three daughters. 14 And he called the name of the first daughter Jemimah, and the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-happuch. 15 And in all the land there were no women so beautiful as Job's daughters. And their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers. 16 And after this Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, four generations. 17 And Job died, an old man, and full of days.
It is the stuff in the middle that scars us. These are 20 of the best verses about Job’s life. The other 1,050 verses are about suffering and judgement and confusion and pain and God’s revealing Himself through His creation to rebuke Job and his three friends. BUT, the beginning and the end are amazing snapshots of Job’s life. We all want the beginning and then end and not the rest. Yet, it is the middle part that Job learned the most about God. It is the suffering that lead Job to this ending. In the end, God balances the scales. In the end, God puts us on one side and Jesus on the other and “we all live happily ever after!” This is the story of faith journey. In the end, God matters. Job was blessed in the end, but he still carried the scars of the loss of his first children. That did not go away. But, God made his days “full” and he was able to live out his days in glory to God. Job’s life had changed. Job’s perspective had changed. Job’s circumstances had change. But, God had not. God was there for all 1,070 verses written about Job’s life. For many of those verses, he struggled to put God in the center of that life. But, in the end, God gave him “full days.” The end matters to God.
Wednesday, May 20, 2020
Watch Over the King with Love/Faithfulness - Psalms 60-62
Psalms 61:6-7 (ESV Strong's)
6 Prolong the life of the king;
may his years endure to all generations!
7 May he be enthroned forever before God;
appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him!
Watch Over the King with Love/Faithfulness
Both Peter and Paul instruct the Church to honor and pray for the leaders of our government.
Romans 13:1-3 (ESV Strong's)
1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval,
1 Peter 2:13-15 (ESV Strong's)
13 Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.
The above Psalm of David tells us how to honor the king: We are to pray that God’s faithfulness and love watch over him. Later, in the next Psalm, David will write:
Psalms 62:11 (ESV Strong's)
11 Once God has spoken;
twice have I heard this:
that power belongs to God,
It is God who appoints the King. Therefore, our submission to the King is our submission to God’s chosen messenger. That is not to say that the king always does what God wants him to do, or that what God wants him to do is always done. The point of the above verse is that we ought to pray, like David, that leadership is surrounded by God’s faithfulness and love. Notice what is said in another Psalm about this “faithfulness” of God:
Psalms 91:4 (ESV Strong's)
4 He will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
God’s faithfulness is like a shield to us. He is the one who protects by HIS being faithful to us; not necessarily that we are faithful to Him. God will always be faithful to His promises, even when we might fail Him by being unfaithful. God wants us to pray that the king has that kind of protection watching over him: The Faithfulness of God!!
6 Prolong the life of the king;
may his years endure to all generations!
7 May he be enthroned forever before God;
appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him!
Watch Over the King with Love/Faithfulness
Both Peter and Paul instruct the Church to honor and pray for the leaders of our government.
Romans 13:1-3 (ESV Strong's)
1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval,
1 Peter 2:13-15 (ESV Strong's)
13 Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.
The above Psalm of David tells us how to honor the king: We are to pray that God’s faithfulness and love watch over him. Later, in the next Psalm, David will write:
Psalms 62:11 (ESV Strong's)
11 Once God has spoken;
twice have I heard this:
that power belongs to God,
It is God who appoints the King. Therefore, our submission to the King is our submission to God’s chosen messenger. That is not to say that the king always does what God wants him to do, or that what God wants him to do is always done. The point of the above verse is that we ought to pray, like David, that leadership is surrounded by God’s faithfulness and love. Notice what is said in another Psalm about this “faithfulness” of God:
Psalms 91:4 (ESV Strong's)
4 He will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
God’s faithfulness is like a shield to us. He is the one who protects by HIS being faithful to us; not necessarily that we are faithful to Him. God will always be faithful to His promises, even when we might fail Him by being unfaithful. God wants us to pray that the king has that kind of protection watching over him: The Faithfulness of God!!
Tuesday, May 19, 2020
God Will Cause My House to Prosper!! 2 Samuel 20-24
2 Samuel 23:5 (ESV Strong's)
5 “For does not my house stand so with God?
For he has made with me an everlasting covenant,
ordered in all things and secure.
For will he not cause to prosper
all my help and my desire?
My House Stands With God!
Before we can fully understand the above passage, we have read the prior verses:
2 Samuel 23:2-4 (ESV Strong's)
2 “The Spirit of the LORD speaks by me;
his word is on my tongue.
3 The God of Israel has spoken;
the Rock of Israel has said to me:
When one rules justly over men,
ruling in the fear of God,
4 he dawns on them like the morning light,
like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning,
like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth.
David is singing a song to God. He is stating that God will bless those who stand with God and make Him their soul desire. When a that happens, God stands with you. David is praising God for the blessings on his home (his life). God makes a covenant with man based upon God’s character and promises. David is rejoicing in that covenant. David knows that the blessings of God are not always visible. He knows that hardship still comes to a child of God. But, he also knows, that God will bless him and his home, eternally, if he follows the Rock of Israel ... God. David ends that thought with a question ... but the question is more of statement with an explanation point at the end:
For will he not cause to prosper
all my help and my desire?
God will “cause to prosper” all my help and my desire. When we walk with God we can be so bold as proclaim this truth in our lives. I claim this truth today!!
5 “For does not my house stand so with God?
For he has made with me an everlasting covenant,
ordered in all things and secure.
For will he not cause to prosper
all my help and my desire?
My House Stands With God!
Before we can fully understand the above passage, we have read the prior verses:
2 Samuel 23:2-4 (ESV Strong's)
2 “The Spirit of the LORD speaks by me;
his word is on my tongue.
3 The God of Israel has spoken;
the Rock of Israel has said to me:
When one rules justly over men,
ruling in the fear of God,
4 he dawns on them like the morning light,
like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning,
like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth.
David is singing a song to God. He is stating that God will bless those who stand with God and make Him their soul desire. When a that happens, God stands with you. David is praising God for the blessings on his home (his life). God makes a covenant with man based upon God’s character and promises. David is rejoicing in that covenant. David knows that the blessings of God are not always visible. He knows that hardship still comes to a child of God. But, he also knows, that God will bless him and his home, eternally, if he follows the Rock of Israel ... God. David ends that thought with a question ... but the question is more of statement with an explanation point at the end:
For will he not cause to prosper
all my help and my desire?
God will “cause to prosper” all my help and my desire. When we walk with God we can be so bold as proclaim this truth in our lives. I claim this truth today!!
Monday, May 18, 2020
God Keeps His Promises - Exodus 30-32
Exodus 32:13-14 (ESV Strong's)
13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.’” 14 And the LORD relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people.
God Keeps His Promises
In the above passage we read about Moses interceding for the nation of Israel. Israel, while Moses was in the mountain with God, made a golden calf to worship. God saw them worship the calf and wanted to destroy them. Moses prays for them claiming God’s very word to God. God is bound by His promises. He can not go against them. Praying the promises of God over situations in our lives is a powerful tool God has given us. We do not have to worry if there is a promise of God involved. The problem comes when we ask for things from God were there are no promises involved. God is not obligated when there is no promises. Powerful prayers are based upon simply asking God to keep His promises ... because He does!!
13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.’” 14 And the LORD relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people.
God Keeps His Promises
In the above passage we read about Moses interceding for the nation of Israel. Israel, while Moses was in the mountain with God, made a golden calf to worship. God saw them worship the calf and wanted to destroy them. Moses prays for them claiming God’s very word to God. God is bound by His promises. He can not go against them. Praying the promises of God over situations in our lives is a powerful tool God has given us. We do not have to worry if there is a promise of God involved. The problem comes when we ask for things from God were there are no promises involved. God is not obligated when there is no promises. Powerful prayers are based upon simply asking God to keep His promises ... because He does!!
Sunday, May 17, 2020
ONLY God Commends!!! 1 Corinthians 9-10
2 Corinthians 10:18 (ESV Strong's)
18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
ONLY God Commends!!
Marketing your business is about as natural for entrepreneurs as breathing. Promoting yourself is something we humans do, constantly. We like to promote, proclaim and premiere our accomplishments. Graduation parties are for others to come to praise the graduate. When we have a retirement party we come to give recognition to the retiree. When we celebrate a sports victory or championship we sing the praises of the athlete(s). After a great athletic accomplishment, athletes like to beat their chest to show everyone how great they are. Cameras like to close in on the celebrating their personal efforts. These type of “commending” of ourselves is NOT being said as wrong, by Paul in the above verse. Paul is not saying these things are sinful. He is saying that they are not eternal. Solomon tells us the same thing. He says giving ourselves praise is not wise:
Proverbs 27:2 (ESV Strong's)
2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;
a stranger, and not your own lips.
We are to pursue eternal acceptance from God. Man’s praise does nothing for us. In fact, it causes us to act differently in life and not Godly in life. Note, again Solomon:
Proverbs 29:25 (ESV Strong's)
25 The fear of man lays a snare,
but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.
Early, to this same church in Corinth, Paul wrote this:
1 Corinthians 4:3-4 (ESV Strong's)
3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.
We are to pursue God’s approval. We need to pray, in faith, that God will produce acceptance in us.
18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
ONLY God Commends!!
Marketing your business is about as natural for entrepreneurs as breathing. Promoting yourself is something we humans do, constantly. We like to promote, proclaim and premiere our accomplishments. Graduation parties are for others to come to praise the graduate. When we have a retirement party we come to give recognition to the retiree. When we celebrate a sports victory or championship we sing the praises of the athlete(s). After a great athletic accomplishment, athletes like to beat their chest to show everyone how great they are. Cameras like to close in on the celebrating their personal efforts. These type of “commending” of ourselves is NOT being said as wrong, by Paul in the above verse. Paul is not saying these things are sinful. He is saying that they are not eternal. Solomon tells us the same thing. He says giving ourselves praise is not wise:
Proverbs 27:2 (ESV Strong's)
2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;
a stranger, and not your own lips.
We are to pursue eternal acceptance from God. Man’s praise does nothing for us. In fact, it causes us to act differently in life and not Godly in life. Note, again Solomon:
Proverbs 29:25 (ESV Strong's)
25 The fear of man lays a snare,
but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.
Early, to this same church in Corinth, Paul wrote this:
1 Corinthians 4:3-4 (ESV Strong's)
3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.
We are to pursue God’s approval. We need to pray, in faith, that God will produce acceptance in us.
Saturday, May 16, 2020
God Does Not Need Me - Luke 3-4
Luke 3:7-8 (ESV Strong's)
7 He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.
God Does Not Need Me
We all have a sense of grandeur. We all believe we are most important. Perhaps the most significant day in a persons life is when they finally discover they are not significant. We live in a world of people trying to find value. They believe when they go to work that it is work that must show them value. In fact, many cause disruption and conflict in the work force when they believe they are not valued. It is as if the company or organization exists to give them value. In the above passage John the Baptist is talking to the religious leaders who came out to hear him. They have a large complex of self-value. They believed they were not only important, but they believed they were the MOST important people to Israel and to God. John the Baptist calls them a “broad of vipers.” This like saying a group of people are a “pack of wolves.” John is not a fan of religiosity. He goes on to tell them that God does not need them. He tells that God, if He wanted, could rise a pile of stones to worship Him. I would imagine, that while John was speaking, there was an actual pile of stones right there. You can see John point to the pile and, possibly, even pick one up. God does not need us. We should not promote ourselves into thinking that God could not operate without us. God is able to take a pile of dirt and find praise for Himself. But, remember, at one time we were a pile of dirt ... God made us out of the dust the earth and breathed into us life. We should remember, however, we are valuable to God, in that He sent His son to die for us. God gave us value. He did not send His Son to die for us because we have value, He sent His Son to die for us and that gave us our value. I am valuable to God because He redeemed me from my sin. The world is hung-up on being valued by others. Many people worship the very words of others that give them value. Yet, we need to realize we only value to God because He gives us value by redeeming us at great cost to Himself.
7 He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.
God Does Not Need Me
We all have a sense of grandeur. We all believe we are most important. Perhaps the most significant day in a persons life is when they finally discover they are not significant. We live in a world of people trying to find value. They believe when they go to work that it is work that must show them value. In fact, many cause disruption and conflict in the work force when they believe they are not valued. It is as if the company or organization exists to give them value. In the above passage John the Baptist is talking to the religious leaders who came out to hear him. They have a large complex of self-value. They believed they were not only important, but they believed they were the MOST important people to Israel and to God. John the Baptist calls them a “broad of vipers.” This like saying a group of people are a “pack of wolves.” John is not a fan of religiosity. He goes on to tell them that God does not need them. He tells that God, if He wanted, could rise a pile of stones to worship Him. I would imagine, that while John was speaking, there was an actual pile of stones right there. You can see John point to the pile and, possibly, even pick one up. God does not need us. We should not promote ourselves into thinking that God could not operate without us. God is able to take a pile of dirt and find praise for Himself. But, remember, at one time we were a pile of dirt ... God made us out of the dust the earth and breathed into us life. We should remember, however, we are valuable to God, in that He sent His son to die for us. God gave us value. He did not send His Son to die for us because we have value, He sent His Son to die for us and that gave us our value. I am valuable to God because He redeemed me from my sin. The world is hung-up on being valued by others. Many people worship the very words of others that give them value. Yet, we need to realize we only value to God because He gives us value by redeeming us at great cost to Himself.
Friday, May 15, 2020
In Suffering God Provides Sustenance - Jeremiah 37-41
Jeremiah 37:21 (ESV)
21 So King Zedekiah gave orders, and they committed Jeremiah to the court of the guard. And a loaf of bread was given him daily from the bakers' street, until all the bread of the city was gone. So Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard.
In Suffering God Provides Sustenance
Jeremiah might easily be called the “suffering prophet.” He had so many struggles. But, then again, so did many of the other prophets. God allows suffering for His servants. That is part of the benefits of having the riches of God. Note Peter’s words:
1 Peter 4:12-14 (ESV)
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
The suffering is (and should be) for speaking truth about God’s plan and judgement and mercies. Jeremiah spoke God’s word and that brought on the suffering. The suffering Jeremiah received, however, we matched by God’s grace and God’s provision, as we can see from the above verse. God has and will always provide for His servants. When we walk with Him, His grace sustains us.
21 So King Zedekiah gave orders, and they committed Jeremiah to the court of the guard. And a loaf of bread was given him daily from the bakers' street, until all the bread of the city was gone. So Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard.
In Suffering God Provides Sustenance
Jeremiah might easily be called the “suffering prophet.” He had so many struggles. But, then again, so did many of the other prophets. God allows suffering for His servants. That is part of the benefits of having the riches of God. Note Peter’s words:
1 Peter 4:12-14 (ESV)
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
The suffering is (and should be) for speaking truth about God’s plan and judgement and mercies. Jeremiah spoke God’s word and that brought on the suffering. The suffering Jeremiah received, however, we matched by God’s grace and God’s provision, as we can see from the above verse. God has and will always provide for His servants. When we walk with Him, His grace sustains us.
Thursday, May 14, 2020
God Speaks! Job 38-39
Job 38:1 (ESV)
The LORD Answers Job
1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:
God Speaks!
The problem with man’s idols and they various forms of worship they invent, is that these idols do not speak. Note what the psalmist writes:
Psalms 115:4-7 (ESV)
4 Their idols are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
5 They have mouths, but do not speak;
eyes, but do not see.
6 They have ears, but do not hear;
noses, but do not smell.
7 They have hands, but do not feel;
feet, but do not walk;
and they do not make a sound in their throat.
But, God is not like these worthless things in our lives we fall down and worship. God speaks!! So far, in this story of Job, we hear from his three friends (who end up condemning him). We also hear from his young friend, who rebukes them and Job for failing to see the character of God. We hear, over these many chapters, Job’s voice; defending his character against the three and to the irritation of the young one. Now, finally we hear from God. God is about to unload so much knowledge on Job (and by extension the four others standing by his side). Why? Because God wants Job to hear about who He is. He is about to re-introduce Himself to Job. God has the mic now and wants to tell Job, his friends, us, how powerful and majestic He is. Job, in his arguments to defend himself, had reduced God to an arbitration judge, who’s sole purpose was to adjudicate Job’s defense in front of his friends. God is about to open up Job’s mind to the most wonderful things about God (via creation). What does He want from Job as a result of this? Note a writer of a psalm again:
Psalms 123:1 (ESV Strong's)
A Song of Ascents. To you I lift up my eyes,
O you who are enthroned in the heavens!
That is what God wants from Job and us. This is why HE SPEAKS! God wants us to lift up our voice and worship Him. The suffering in Job’s life was to focus his eyes on the majesty and power of God.
Wednesday, May 13, 2020
My Steadfastness is Based Upon His Steadfastness - Psalms 57-59
Psalms 57:6-10 (ESV)
6 They set a net for my steps;
my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit in my way,
but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah
7 My heart is steadfast, O God,
my heart is steadfast!
I will sing and make melody!
8 Awake, my glory!
Awake, O harp and lyre!
I will awake the dawn!
9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
10 For your steadfast love is great to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the clouds.
My Steadfastness is Based Upon His Steadfastness
This is a passage from a song David wrote when King Saul was chasing him down to kill him. In the poem, David is rejoicing that God is still in control of his life and has not abandoned him. David is given insight by God that Saul has set a trap for him and is waiting for David to fall into the pit he has dug for him via this trap. But David maintains his trust in God and refuses to follow whatever trap this may be. To combat the trap or temptation or whatever he is referring to in this song, David breaks out in songs of praise to God. In the song David claims his own “steadfastness” toward God. However, he does not claim this is on his own merit. He goes on to sing about God’s steadfastness. He states, “For your steadfast love is great to the heavens and faithfulness to the clouds.” By using the preposition “for” he gives us the reason for his own bold statement to be steady in this trial. Our steadfast love for Him is due to His steadfastness love for us.
6 They set a net for my steps;
my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit in my way,
but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah
7 My heart is steadfast, O God,
my heart is steadfast!
I will sing and make melody!
8 Awake, my glory!
Awake, O harp and lyre!
I will awake the dawn!
9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
10 For your steadfast love is great to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the clouds.
My Steadfastness is Based Upon His Steadfastness
This is a passage from a song David wrote when King Saul was chasing him down to kill him. In the poem, David is rejoicing that God is still in control of his life and has not abandoned him. David is given insight by God that Saul has set a trap for him and is waiting for David to fall into the pit he has dug for him via this trap. But David maintains his trust in God and refuses to follow whatever trap this may be. To combat the trap or temptation or whatever he is referring to in this song, David breaks out in songs of praise to God. In the song David claims his own “steadfastness” toward God. However, he does not claim this is on his own merit. He goes on to sing about God’s steadfastness. He states, “For your steadfast love is great to the heavens and faithfulness to the clouds.” By using the preposition “for” he gives us the reason for his own bold statement to be steady in this trial. Our steadfast love for Him is due to His steadfastness love for us.
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
Where God Allows Suffering, He Provides Sustenance! - 2 Samuel 15-19
2 Samuel 17:26-29 (ESV)
26 And Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead.
27 When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, and Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim, 28 brought beds, basins, and earthen vessels, wheat, barley, flour, parched grain, beans and lentils, 29 honey and curds and sheep and cheese from the herd, for David and the people with him to eat, for they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness.”
Where God Allows Suffering, He Provides Sustenance!
In the above passage we have the final chapters in the story of David and his rebellious son, Absalom. Absalom had turned the hearts of the people away from David and toward his leadership (2 Samuel 15:1-3). As a result, David is forced to leave Jerusalem and Absalom appoints himself as king. The son is not in hot pursuit of the father. David, in his older age, has come to the realization that God allows in our life what God allows. He does not want to go against God’s plan for him ... no matter the suffering. Even in the cursing he received he acknowledged God’s hand in his life:
2 Samuel 16:10-11 (ESV)
10 But the king said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the LORD has said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’” 11 And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Leave him alone, and let him curse, for the LORD has told him to.
In the above passage we see that Absalom is bearing down on David. David is on the run and had to leave in haste. Three men from relationships he had in the past have come to his aide with refreshments and provision. This is an amazing part of the story that could be overlooked if we are not careful. God allows suffering into our lives. God often uses suffering as the chiseling tool to shape us into His image and refine our love for Him. During that suffering-chiseling-refining process, God sends refreshment and provisions to sustains us along the way. That is the God we love and honor and serve ... even in the midst of suffering.
26 And Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead.
27 When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, and Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim, 28 brought beds, basins, and earthen vessels, wheat, barley, flour, parched grain, beans and lentils, 29 honey and curds and sheep and cheese from the herd, for David and the people with him to eat, for they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness.”
Where God Allows Suffering, He Provides Sustenance!
In the above passage we have the final chapters in the story of David and his rebellious son, Absalom. Absalom had turned the hearts of the people away from David and toward his leadership (2 Samuel 15:1-3). As a result, David is forced to leave Jerusalem and Absalom appoints himself as king. The son is not in hot pursuit of the father. David, in his older age, has come to the realization that God allows in our life what God allows. He does not want to go against God’s plan for him ... no matter the suffering. Even in the cursing he received he acknowledged God’s hand in his life:
2 Samuel 16:10-11 (ESV)
10 But the king said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the LORD has said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’” 11 And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Leave him alone, and let him curse, for the LORD has told him to.
In the above passage we see that Absalom is bearing down on David. David is on the run and had to leave in haste. Three men from relationships he had in the past have come to his aide with refreshments and provision. This is an amazing part of the story that could be overlooked if we are not careful. God allows suffering into our lives. God often uses suffering as the chiseling tool to shape us into His image and refine our love for Him. During that suffering-chiseling-refining process, God sends refreshment and provisions to sustains us along the way. That is the God we love and honor and serve ... even in the midst of suffering.
Monday, May 11, 2020
God Chooses to Meet with Man
Exodus 25:22 (ESV)
22 There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel.
God Chooses to Meet with Man
There are a lot of religions in the world. Each has their own unique way of folding in some basic aspects that are true to them all. 1). Each has a God (often called by a name unique to that faith). 2). Each seems to believe that man has something wrong and there is a separation between man and that person they call “God.” 3). Each has a method by which man, in his “fallen” state, can be redeemed and have “fellowship” or “acceptance” with the god they call “God.” However, it is ONLY Christianity that has God comes to man to bridge that gap. Only in Christianity does God do all the work to heal the “sin” that separates man from God. In all other faiths man does the work to prove he is worthy enough to to commune with God. In the above passage we see that God chooses to fellowship with God. God wants to fellowship with man AND makes the way for that to happen. In the Old Testament He did so through the Tabernacle and sacrificial system. These, however, were only a type of way to demonstrate the need for a blood sacrifice and a representative to come holy to God. In the New Testament we see the Christ is that Tabernacle and that representative. Note how the writer of Hebrews says it:
Hebrews 10:19-23 (ESV)
19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
We have a priest, Jesus, who makes away for us to fellowship with God through His shed blood. We can rejoice in the same Mercy seat that Moses and Aaron rejoiced in through the building of the Tabernacle and the killing of the lambs. But, we do so by the Lamb of God, His Son. He has made a way for us to fellowship with God because God chooses to fellowship with man and made a way for that to happen.
22 There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel.
God Chooses to Meet with Man
There are a lot of religions in the world. Each has their own unique way of folding in some basic aspects that are true to them all. 1). Each has a God (often called by a name unique to that faith). 2). Each seems to believe that man has something wrong and there is a separation between man and that person they call “God.” 3). Each has a method by which man, in his “fallen” state, can be redeemed and have “fellowship” or “acceptance” with the god they call “God.” However, it is ONLY Christianity that has God comes to man to bridge that gap. Only in Christianity does God do all the work to heal the “sin” that separates man from God. In all other faiths man does the work to prove he is worthy enough to to commune with God. In the above passage we see that God chooses to fellowship with God. God wants to fellowship with man AND makes the way for that to happen. In the Old Testament He did so through the Tabernacle and sacrificial system. These, however, were only a type of way to demonstrate the need for a blood sacrifice and a representative to come holy to God. In the New Testament we see the Christ is that Tabernacle and that representative. Note how the writer of Hebrews says it:
Hebrews 10:19-23 (ESV)
19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
We have a priest, Jesus, who makes away for us to fellowship with God through His shed blood. We can rejoice in the same Mercy seat that Moses and Aaron rejoiced in through the building of the Tabernacle and the killing of the lambs. But, we do so by the Lamb of God, His Son. He has made a way for us to fellowship with God because God chooses to fellowship with man and made a way for that to happen.
Sunday, May 10, 2020
Faith Needs Action - 2 Corinthians 6-8
2 Corinthians 6:1-2 (ESV)
1 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says,
“In a favorable time I listened to you,
and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
Faith Needs Action
Based upon the above passage we can receive God’s grace in vain. What does that mean? Paul was urging the Corinthians to persevere in their faith, despite the trials and pain and suffering they were experiencing. He is recognizing that the false teachers and the open sin in the Corinth church can lead those who confessed the wanted God’s grace, but can receive it in vain. He goes on to quote Isaiah and wants them to know that it is “now time” to believe in God’s grace and to not allow the “times” to drive them away from God’s grace. God wants us to, by faith, trust in God’s grace and honor God in His work in our lives. He is saying that believing in God grace should change our lives. We should be the one that handles a struggling life via God’s grace. People can receive God’s grace in a way that actually dishonor’s God love. Paul is warning us not to take God’s grace in vain ... it needs to have action.
1 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says,
“In a favorable time I listened to you,
and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
Faith Needs Action
Based upon the above passage we can receive God’s grace in vain. What does that mean? Paul was urging the Corinthians to persevere in their faith, despite the trials and pain and suffering they were experiencing. He is recognizing that the false teachers and the open sin in the Corinth church can lead those who confessed the wanted God’s grace, but can receive it in vain. He goes on to quote Isaiah and wants them to know that it is “now time” to believe in God’s grace and to not allow the “times” to drive them away from God’s grace. God wants us to, by faith, trust in God’s grace and honor God in His work in our lives. He is saying that believing in God grace should change our lives. We should be the one that handles a struggling life via God’s grace. People can receive God’s grace in a way that actually dishonor’s God love. Paul is warning us not to take God’s grace in vain ... it needs to have action.
Saturday, May 9, 2020
Faith Grows - Luke 1-2
Luke 1:34-36 (ESV Strong's)
34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
Faith Grows
In the above passage we read the response of Mary when an angel appeared to her to inform her she was going to become pregnant, as a virgin, and was not going to have relationships with a man. She would become pregnant by God and carry the Son of God in her womb. At this point most of us would say, “What?!!!” But, Mary simply asked, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” She had a very acceptable question to God, coming from a young virgin. Notice on the other hand what happens when the High Priest (who should know God the most) questions his message from the angel:
Luke 1:18-20 (ESV Strong's)
18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”
The lesson here: To whom little is given, little is required ... see verse 20 above. Unlike Zacharias, above, Mary didn't ask "how" this could happen, as if in unbelief, but "how" will this happen, as in logistical things. Zacharias asked in disbelief. God knows our faith. God knows who should have faith (because God gave it to them) and who is still growing in faith. Faith is a growing commodity. We are to get more and more faith. Notice Christ’s response when the disciples would later ask him to increase their faith:
Luke 17:5-6 (ESV Strong's)
Increase Our Faith
5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
Seeds grow!! We need to allow our faith to grow as we become more and more familiar with God’s power and grace in our lives. We can not become stagnant. God wants to increase our faith.
34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
Faith Grows
In the above passage we read the response of Mary when an angel appeared to her to inform her she was going to become pregnant, as a virgin, and was not going to have relationships with a man. She would become pregnant by God and carry the Son of God in her womb. At this point most of us would say, “What?!!!” But, Mary simply asked, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” She had a very acceptable question to God, coming from a young virgin. Notice on the other hand what happens when the High Priest (who should know God the most) questions his message from the angel:
Luke 1:18-20 (ESV Strong's)
18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”
The lesson here: To whom little is given, little is required ... see verse 20 above. Unlike Zacharias, above, Mary didn't ask "how" this could happen, as if in unbelief, but "how" will this happen, as in logistical things. Zacharias asked in disbelief. God knows our faith. God knows who should have faith (because God gave it to them) and who is still growing in faith. Faith is a growing commodity. We are to get more and more faith. Notice Christ’s response when the disciples would later ask him to increase their faith:
Luke 17:5-6 (ESV Strong's)
Increase Our Faith
5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
Seeds grow!! We need to allow our faith to grow as we become more and more familiar with God’s power and grace in our lives. We can not become stagnant. God wants to increase our faith.
Friday, May 8, 2020
Being “Shut-up” - Jeremiah 32-26
Jeremiah 32:2-6 (ESV Strong's)
2 At that time the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the guard that was in the palace of the king of Judah. 3 For Zedekiah king of Judah had imprisoned him, saying, “Why do you prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the LORD: Behold, I am giving this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall capture it; 4 Zedekiah king of Judah shall not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, but shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him face to face and see him eye to eye. 5 And he shall take Zedekiah to Babylon, and there he shall remain until I visit him, declares the LORD. Though you fight against the Chaldeans, you shall not succeed’?”
6 Jeremiah said, “The word of the LORD came to me:
Being Locked Up Creates Great Openings For God’s Voice:
Jeremiah is in prison for his faith. While in prison for his faith, over these next few chapters, Jeremiah is given some of the greatest words we could meditate upon. Here are only two of the passages Jeremiah received while being “shut-up:”
Jeremiah 32:17 (ESV Strong's)
17 ‘Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.
Jeremiah 32:26-27 (ESV Strong's)
26 The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: 27 “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?
Are those references not the greatest to think about during the day? In the above passage it states that Jeremiah was put in prison and then again in Jeremiah 33:1. This did not stop God from speaking to him and, in fact, gave him a ready mind to receive powerful words from God. The same was true of Peter. Many of the letters Paul wrote came to him while in prison. Being “shut-up” close down the noise around us. It puts us in the place God can hear us. Rejoice when God allows the world to shut you in! In those divine directed moments God wants to shout out to you His divine powerful character.
2 At that time the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the guard that was in the palace of the king of Judah. 3 For Zedekiah king of Judah had imprisoned him, saying, “Why do you prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the LORD: Behold, I am giving this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall capture it; 4 Zedekiah king of Judah shall not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, but shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him face to face and see him eye to eye. 5 And he shall take Zedekiah to Babylon, and there he shall remain until I visit him, declares the LORD. Though you fight against the Chaldeans, you shall not succeed’?”
6 Jeremiah said, “The word of the LORD came to me:
Being Locked Up Creates Great Openings For God’s Voice:
Jeremiah is in prison for his faith. While in prison for his faith, over these next few chapters, Jeremiah is given some of the greatest words we could meditate upon. Here are only two of the passages Jeremiah received while being “shut-up:”
Jeremiah 32:17 (ESV Strong's)
17 ‘Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.
Jeremiah 32:26-27 (ESV Strong's)
26 The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: 27 “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?
Are those references not the greatest to think about during the day? In the above passage it states that Jeremiah was put in prison and then again in Jeremiah 33:1. This did not stop God from speaking to him and, in fact, gave him a ready mind to receive powerful words from God. The same was true of Peter. Many of the letters Paul wrote came to him while in prison. Being “shut-up” close down the noise around us. It puts us in the place God can hear us. Rejoice when God allows the world to shut you in! In those divine directed moments God wants to shout out to you His divine powerful character.
Thursday, May 7, 2020
In Suffering, Fear the Lord - Job 37
Job 37:24
Therefore men fear him;
he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit.”
In Suffering, Fear the Lord!
After many thoughts and verses directed toward Job and his three friends, Elihu ends his declaration with the above conclusion. The "therefore" in the passage is to assist us in the understanding that this is the culmination of his words. After Elihu tells us of God's great justice and His awesome majesty, power and evidentiary statements via creation, that the only conclusion left for Job, his friends and us (the readers) is to "fear" God. The concept of "fearing" God is not in the context of being afraid of God, because He can destroy us with His mere breath (although such fear would be part of the overall concept). The use of the word is often translated "reverence" and indicates that we see God as the only thing we need and that, without Him, we are completely lost and undone. We so revere God that we honor Him with all that we have and that we realize He sustains us ... His power consumes us in our understanding of Him ... it overwhelms us. The more we understand God and get to know Him the more and more we revere Him. Elihu adds one last line to his words for Job by saying that God does not regard those who are wise in their own eyes. God is not revered by the proud. The proud think they can handle life and circumstances without God. Peter tells us that God resist the proud and gives grace to the humble. Humility is the door we must walk through to have true reverence for God. Through-out his defense toward his friends, Job continued to tell them he was not guilty in regard to this pain and suffering. He told them so many times and in so many ways that we hear pride in his words. Elihu is giving us all a reminder that God is not pleased with the proud and even resists them. Humility is necessary for reverence.
Elihu wants us all to know that suffering is an avenue to this humiliation and learned reverence for God. We know, based upon God’s own words, that Job was a righteous man. He already feared God. But, through this suffering he may have lost sight of that reverence (based upon what we read in his statements). Elihu is a great friend. He gives his a solid word ... fear the Lord ... even in your suffering.
Note Peter’s words to the early church during their greatest trials:
1 Peter 3:13-16 (ESV Strong's)
13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
We are have reverence for God and not fear the suffering. That brings about a blessing from God.
Therefore men fear him;
he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit.”
In Suffering, Fear the Lord!
After many thoughts and verses directed toward Job and his three friends, Elihu ends his declaration with the above conclusion. The "therefore" in the passage is to assist us in the understanding that this is the culmination of his words. After Elihu tells us of God's great justice and His awesome majesty, power and evidentiary statements via creation, that the only conclusion left for Job, his friends and us (the readers) is to "fear" God. The concept of "fearing" God is not in the context of being afraid of God, because He can destroy us with His mere breath (although such fear would be part of the overall concept). The use of the word is often translated "reverence" and indicates that we see God as the only thing we need and that, without Him, we are completely lost and undone. We so revere God that we honor Him with all that we have and that we realize He sustains us ... His power consumes us in our understanding of Him ... it overwhelms us. The more we understand God and get to know Him the more and more we revere Him. Elihu adds one last line to his words for Job by saying that God does not regard those who are wise in their own eyes. God is not revered by the proud. The proud think they can handle life and circumstances without God. Peter tells us that God resist the proud and gives grace to the humble. Humility is the door we must walk through to have true reverence for God. Through-out his defense toward his friends, Job continued to tell them he was not guilty in regard to this pain and suffering. He told them so many times and in so many ways that we hear pride in his words. Elihu is giving us all a reminder that God is not pleased with the proud and even resists them. Humility is necessary for reverence.
Elihu wants us all to know that suffering is an avenue to this humiliation and learned reverence for God. We know, based upon God’s own words, that Job was a righteous man. He already feared God. But, through this suffering he may have lost sight of that reverence (based upon what we read in his statements). Elihu is a great friend. He gives his a solid word ... fear the Lord ... even in your suffering.
Note Peter’s words to the early church during their greatest trials:
1 Peter 3:13-16 (ESV Strong's)
13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
We are have reverence for God and not fear the suffering. That brings about a blessing from God.
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
God Redeems My Soul in Safety - Psalms 54-56
Psalms 55:18-19 (ESV Strong's)
18 He redeems my soul in safety
from the battle that I wage,
for many are arrayed against me.
19 God will give ear and humble them,
he who is enthroned from of old, Selah
because they do not change
and do not fear God.
God Redeems My Soul in Safety
We know what it means to be justified and to be made righteous by Christ’s work on the cross. Whe we, by faith, put our trust in God’s redemptive act through His Son, we can rejoice. In the above passage we see, yet another blessing from God. God not only redeems our souls, but He makes promises to redeem us in safety from our enemies and/or those who would oppose us. In this Psalm, David is actually asking for God’s grace to protect him from a very familiar friend. This is a friend David actually went to worship with, according to the previous verses. God wants to protect us from those who would oppose Him by trying to destroy us. We can rejoice that God is in control and will protect us from the pains of the wicked around us. This is an act of faith on our part. We have no need to fear because God promises to redeems us “in safety.” The Hebrew word for “safety” in the above passage is the Hebrew word for peace, “shalom.” God promises are not to necessarily remove the threat from us, but to provide us with inward peace during the struggle. Notice how Peter states in to those under trial in the first century church:
1 Peter 3:13-14 (ESV Strong's)
13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,
This is a quote from Isaiah 8 that is stated to the nation of Israel to not fear the invading Assyrian army. God is with us and redeems us in perfect peace.
18 He redeems my soul in safety
from the battle that I wage,
for many are arrayed against me.
19 God will give ear and humble them,
he who is enthroned from of old, Selah
because they do not change
and do not fear God.
God Redeems My Soul in Safety
We know what it means to be justified and to be made righteous by Christ’s work on the cross. Whe we, by faith, put our trust in God’s redemptive act through His Son, we can rejoice. In the above passage we see, yet another blessing from God. God not only redeems our souls, but He makes promises to redeem us in safety from our enemies and/or those who would oppose us. In this Psalm, David is actually asking for God’s grace to protect him from a very familiar friend. This is a friend David actually went to worship with, according to the previous verses. God wants to protect us from those who would oppose Him by trying to destroy us. We can rejoice that God is in control and will protect us from the pains of the wicked around us. This is an act of faith on our part. We have no need to fear because God promises to redeems us “in safety.” The Hebrew word for “safety” in the above passage is the Hebrew word for peace, “shalom.” God promises are not to necessarily remove the threat from us, but to provide us with inward peace during the struggle. Notice how Peter states in to those under trial in the first century church:
1 Peter 3:13-14 (ESV Strong's)
13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,
This is a quote from Isaiah 8 that is stated to the nation of Israel to not fear the invading Assyrian army. God is with us and redeems us in perfect peace.
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
Sweat Reconciliation Comes From Forgiveness - 2 Samuel 10-14
2 Samuel 14:33 (ESV Strong's)
33 Then Joab went to the king and told him, and he summoned Absalom. So he came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king, and the king kissed Absalom.
Sweat Reconciliation
The above passage has a long backstory. This verse is the final verse in what is nothing more than a late-night-movie-soap-opera-theme plot. The story goes like this: Absalom was David’s son. Amnon was David’s son, by a different mother. Absalom had a sister named Tamar. Tamar would be Amnon half-sister. Amnon lusted after Tamar and finally succumbed to his urges and raped her. He then shamed her by having nothing to do with her. David was angry but that was it. Absalom wanted revenge. Two years later Absalom gets that revenge and kills Amnon. That, too, displeased David. As a result fo this action Absalom is banished from the country. He is in this country for three years (we are now five years past the rape of Tamar). Finally, King David agrees to allow Absalom to return. But, two years later he has still not even seen David. He is home, in the country and city, but still has no relationship with his father. Finally, after much urging, David agrees to meet with Absalom. That is where the above verse fits in the story. David finally is reconciled with his son. He has, however, lost a son (Amnon), the reputation of a daughter (Tamar) and almost seven years of fellowship with a son (Absalom). This is what sin does. But, sin does not have to reign. Forgiveness can be king if we allow it to be. David waits entirely too long to bring this reconciliation about. Here, in chapter 11-12 of this book David finds forgiveness from God for his “rape” and/or “seduction” of Bathsheba, but David can’t find a way to forgive his son. This is the problem when we fail to forgive. Sweet reconciliation can come from forgiveness. But, when we withhold forgiveness to others even though God has forgiven us, we find ourselves missing out on the relationships we could be having.
33 Then Joab went to the king and told him, and he summoned Absalom. So he came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king, and the king kissed Absalom.
Sweat Reconciliation
The above passage has a long backstory. This verse is the final verse in what is nothing more than a late-night-movie-soap-opera-theme plot. The story goes like this: Absalom was David’s son. Amnon was David’s son, by a different mother. Absalom had a sister named Tamar. Tamar would be Amnon half-sister. Amnon lusted after Tamar and finally succumbed to his urges and raped her. He then shamed her by having nothing to do with her. David was angry but that was it. Absalom wanted revenge. Two years later Absalom gets that revenge and kills Amnon. That, too, displeased David. As a result fo this action Absalom is banished from the country. He is in this country for three years (we are now five years past the rape of Tamar). Finally, King David agrees to allow Absalom to return. But, two years later he has still not even seen David. He is home, in the country and city, but still has no relationship with his father. Finally, after much urging, David agrees to meet with Absalom. That is where the above verse fits in the story. David finally is reconciled with his son. He has, however, lost a son (Amnon), the reputation of a daughter (Tamar) and almost seven years of fellowship with a son (Absalom). This is what sin does. But, sin does not have to reign. Forgiveness can be king if we allow it to be. David waits entirely too long to bring this reconciliation about. Here, in chapter 11-12 of this book David finds forgiveness from God for his “rape” and/or “seduction” of Bathsheba, but David can’t find a way to forgive his son. This is the problem when we fail to forgive. Sweet reconciliation can come from forgiveness. But, when we withhold forgiveness to others even though God has forgiven us, we find ourselves missing out on the relationships we could be having.
Monday, May 4, 2020
God Protects the Helpless - Exodus 22-24
Exodus 22:22-24 (ESV Strong's)
22 You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. 23 If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry, 24 and my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.
God Protects the Helpless
In these chapters of Exodus, God is laying out The Law. He is telling the nation of Israel the way to live their day to day life in order for them to them to show the surrounding nations His character. They are to be a light to the nations around them and not like the nations around them:
Exodus 23:32-33 (ESV Strong's)
32 You shall make no covenant with them and their gods. 33 They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against me; for if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you.”
One of the ways they could look different in the land is to treat the widow and the orphan differently. That would not have been the case in the surrounding nations. Women and children were a commodity in ancient times. The other nations would abuse, sell, abandon and neglect widow and orphans. God, in the above passage, tells the nation of Israel that He is watching over the oppressed in the land and they were NOT to be like the wicked nations around them. How we treat others is a key to reflecting God. In the New Testament the Law will be summed up as “loving God with all your heart and loving your neighbor as yourself.” The above passage reflects that definition of The Law. How we treat the oppressed tells us much about our relationships with God and our mindset being aligned by God’s Word and controlled by God’s character. We are to treat the oppresses with the same treatment we want to be treated.
22 You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. 23 If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry, 24 and my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.
God Protects the Helpless
In these chapters of Exodus, God is laying out The Law. He is telling the nation of Israel the way to live their day to day life in order for them to them to show the surrounding nations His character. They are to be a light to the nations around them and not like the nations around them:
Exodus 23:32-33 (ESV Strong's)
32 You shall make no covenant with them and their gods. 33 They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against me; for if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you.”
One of the ways they could look different in the land is to treat the widow and the orphan differently. That would not have been the case in the surrounding nations. Women and children were a commodity in ancient times. The other nations would abuse, sell, abandon and neglect widow and orphans. God, in the above passage, tells the nation of Israel that He is watching over the oppressed in the land and they were NOT to be like the wicked nations around them. How we treat others is a key to reflecting God. In the New Testament the Law will be summed up as “loving God with all your heart and loving your neighbor as yourself.” The above passage reflects that definition of The Law. How we treat the oppressed tells us much about our relationships with God and our mindset being aligned by God’s Word and controlled by God’s character. We are to treat the oppresses with the same treatment we want to be treated.
Sunday, May 3, 2020
The Gospel is Hidden - 2 Corinthians 4-5
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (ESV Strong's)
3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
The Gospel is Hidden
Many times, throughout Paul’s writings, he talks about the Mystery of the Gospel. Here is one of those references:
Colossians 1:24-27 (ESV Strong's)
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Paul believed that his ministry (and ours) is to make know the mystery of the Gospel to the lost world. The problem is, Satan is trying to blind the hearts and minds of people to hear, see and know the Gospel. When Paul wrote this second letter to the church at Corinth, he outlines for them his ministry. That is what these chapters (4 & 5) are all about. Paul wants the church to know that we are sharing in the glory of God via the Gospel and are partakers of God’s righteousness as a result. However, Satan has made it his mission to bring as many people down with him as he can. So, he is actively trying to blind their eyes to the Mystery of the Gospel. The hearts of the lost are “veiled” to the truth of the Gospel. Our job, as believers in God’s plan, is to be the ambassadors who share the Gospel, in the hope that God will open their eyes and grant them repentance. Paul said it to Timothy like this:
2 Timothy 2:25-26 (ESV Strong's)
25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
That should be the call to all believers!!
3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
The Gospel is Hidden
Many times, throughout Paul’s writings, he talks about the Mystery of the Gospel. Here is one of those references:
Colossians 1:24-27 (ESV Strong's)
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Paul believed that his ministry (and ours) is to make know the mystery of the Gospel to the lost world. The problem is, Satan is trying to blind the hearts and minds of people to hear, see and know the Gospel. When Paul wrote this second letter to the church at Corinth, he outlines for them his ministry. That is what these chapters (4 & 5) are all about. Paul wants the church to know that we are sharing in the glory of God via the Gospel and are partakers of God’s righteousness as a result. However, Satan has made it his mission to bring as many people down with him as he can. So, he is actively trying to blind their eyes to the Mystery of the Gospel. The hearts of the lost are “veiled” to the truth of the Gospel. Our job, as believers in God’s plan, is to be the ambassadors who share the Gospel, in the hope that God will open their eyes and grant them repentance. Paul said it to Timothy like this:
2 Timothy 2:25-26 (ESV Strong's)
25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
That should be the call to all believers!!
Saturday, May 2, 2020
Faith Produces Boldness, Not Fear - Mark 15-16
Mark 15:42-44 (ESV Strong's)
42 And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he should have already died. And summoning the centurion, he asked him
whether he was already dead.
Faith Produces Boldness, Not Fear
To come before Pilate for a request was neither an easy task or something someone did without merit and/or measure. In the above passage Joseph of Arimathea, apparently a prominent man, came to the leader of the region to ask for the body of Jesus, who was crucified by the order of the leader, hours before. Joseph of Arimathea, it is said, was “looking for the kingdom of God.” This makes him a man of faith. He was looking forward to the Messiah. This was the Old Testament faith mindset. Now Jesus has die on the cross. He hanging on the cross. The OT tells us that anyone who “hangs on a tree (cross) is accursed.” Joseph wants Jesus off the tree. His faith in the Messiah has emboldened him. That is what Faith does. Faith has action. Faith continues to strengthen us as we walk with our eyes “looking” for something spiritual and something Kingdom oriented. Joseph was able to step into
Pilate’s sphere with boldness to ask something not only dangerous, but necessary for the plan of God. Our faith should give us a boldness to live out loud in front of the world.
Proverbs 28:1 (ESV Strong's)
1 The wicked flee when no one pursues,
but the righteous are bold as a lion.
That proverb characterizes Joseph of Arimathea. It should also characterize all believers.
42 And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he should have already died. And summoning the centurion, he asked him
whether he was already dead.
Faith Produces Boldness, Not Fear
To come before Pilate for a request was neither an easy task or something someone did without merit and/or measure. In the above passage Joseph of Arimathea, apparently a prominent man, came to the leader of the region to ask for the body of Jesus, who was crucified by the order of the leader, hours before. Joseph of Arimathea, it is said, was “looking for the kingdom of God.” This makes him a man of faith. He was looking forward to the Messiah. This was the Old Testament faith mindset. Now Jesus has die on the cross. He hanging on the cross. The OT tells us that anyone who “hangs on a tree (cross) is accursed.” Joseph wants Jesus off the tree. His faith in the Messiah has emboldened him. That is what Faith does. Faith has action. Faith continues to strengthen us as we walk with our eyes “looking” for something spiritual and something Kingdom oriented. Joseph was able to step into
Pilate’s sphere with boldness to ask something not only dangerous, but necessary for the plan of God. Our faith should give us a boldness to live out loud in front of the world.
Proverbs 28:1 (ESV Strong's)
1 The wicked flee when no one pursues,
but the righteous are bold as a lion.
That proverb characterizes Joseph of Arimathea. It should also characterize all believers.
Friday, May 1, 2020
There Welfare is Your Welfare - Jeremiah 27-31
Jeremiah 29:7 (ESV Strong's)
7 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.
There Welfare is Your Welfare
The above verse is plucked out of a series of verses that record Jeremiah’s instructions to those from the nation of Israel that had been taken captive by King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. Jeremiah is instructing the captives on how to live in a foreign land. These are instructions coming from God through the voice and writings of Jeremiah. This is the WORD OF THE LORD. These words are not up for compromise or modification. They are to be obeyed. The point of the above verse tells the exiles to seek the welfare of Babylon. We have remember that Nebuchadnezzar was not a nice king. The Babylonians had done some wicked things to other countries. If we remember the story of the prophet Jonah we might grasp the angst Jeremiah’s words are to the exiles. Jonah did not want to go to Nineveh to preach God’s grace. Nineveh was the capital city of Babylon. Jonah did not want to preach God’s grace there because he knew God would probably forgive the Babylonians and Jonah knew how wicked they were. This is why the above verse is so amazing. God is telling the exiles to pray for the welfare of Babylon because the welfare of Babylon was also the welfare of the exiles. We may not be part of this world, since we look for a new city who’s builder and maker is God. That is being Kingdom focused. But, God wants us to live in this world. We ought to be praying for the welfare of this country we live in, because their welfare is our welfare. The church thrives in good times and in bad times. History shows us this truth. But, when the welfare of the country slides, so too can the church. Paul said it this way to the church. We ought to obey these words. They are the Word of God:
1 Timothy 2:1-2 (ESV Strong's)
1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
Peace in our lives is directly connected to peace in the lives of those who rule us.
7 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.
There Welfare is Your Welfare
The above verse is plucked out of a series of verses that record Jeremiah’s instructions to those from the nation of Israel that had been taken captive by King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. Jeremiah is instructing the captives on how to live in a foreign land. These are instructions coming from God through the voice and writings of Jeremiah. This is the WORD OF THE LORD. These words are not up for compromise or modification. They are to be obeyed. The point of the above verse tells the exiles to seek the welfare of Babylon. We have remember that Nebuchadnezzar was not a nice king. The Babylonians had done some wicked things to other countries. If we remember the story of the prophet Jonah we might grasp the angst Jeremiah’s words are to the exiles. Jonah did not want to go to Nineveh to preach God’s grace. Nineveh was the capital city of Babylon. Jonah did not want to preach God’s grace there because he knew God would probably forgive the Babylonians and Jonah knew how wicked they were. This is why the above verse is so amazing. God is telling the exiles to pray for the welfare of Babylon because the welfare of Babylon was also the welfare of the exiles. We may not be part of this world, since we look for a new city who’s builder and maker is God. That is being Kingdom focused. But, God wants us to live in this world. We ought to be praying for the welfare of this country we live in, because their welfare is our welfare. The church thrives in good times and in bad times. History shows us this truth. But, when the welfare of the country slides, so too can the church. Paul said it this way to the church. We ought to obey these words. They are the Word of God:
1 Timothy 2:1-2 (ESV Strong's)
1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
Peace in our lives is directly connected to peace in the lives of those who rule us.
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